The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-08-13
THE BLACK TRUNK.

someness that will not attempt to describe. One of the earliest sympt- oms of this last stage is the loss of the fingers and toes, which can then be plucked off as easily as one can pull oEt hair from the head or whisker', and with less pain, the members then being wholly callous.
 "Some years ago, while spending the summer in the neighborhood of Paris. I first heard of the Bottomless Pool, and the stories told concerning it. It was then that conceived the pro- ject that have now put into execu- tion. I bought the manor with its surrounding grounds; and, when l found that the hour had arrived when life was rapidly becoming impossible to me, arranged the final detail. l nave had a trunk made that closes with a spring lock, opening readily from within, but impossible to be opened from the exterior by any one not possessing the key. I have also caused holes to be bored ill it for venti- lation; so that every precaution has been taken against any failure in my last arrangement. have sent away the old woman who had charge of the house. My will and other important papers I forwarded by post to the care of the American Legation; and l mailed declaration of my intended suicide to my lawyer in America the day we left Paris. As soon as finish this letter, I swallow the contents of a phial of powerful narcotic poison a drug prepared by myself from a plant whose property was imparted to me in India, by Hindoo physician and shall then get into the trunk and close the lid. The medicine is rapid in it's effect I shall not long sur- vive the taking of the dose-though, as have already told you, have ser rounded my enforced confinement with every possible precaution, in case the medicine-which is hardly probable-should fail of it's effect. So, when you consign the black trunk to the depths of the Bottomless Pool, you will have rendered me, Stephen, last and an incidentally great ser vice-you will have hidden away for ever my poor, marred body where cu- riosity or mockery can never come to find it.
 ''In the midst of his professional re- search my brother was seized with a malignant fever and died after few days illness. Before I had well re- covered from the shock of his loss discovered one day on one of my arms peculiar shiny and scaly eruption Worse than death had befallen me 1 was attacked with leprosy.
 "Since that day I have combated with all the resources taught to me by science, and by my own research and that of my brother into the nature of the disease, it's slow and inevitable pro- gress to the end. I have succeeded sometimes in retarding it's march, but never in wholly checking it. A few weeks ago 1 found that I had entered upon one of the latest phases of the malady; the next on3 would be idiocy; the last horrible death. Then de- termined not to survive my reason, or to finger, to possibly disseminate con- tagion around me, when my mind was no longer alert to suggest prevent i've and disinfecting measure. was resolved, too, that this poor marred body of mine should never be given over te the investigation of science. Through these long years of wasting pain had contrived to keep my se- cret. And if you will but prove true to me, Stephen, it shall be kept after death, as inviolate as have kept it in life.
 "Adieu. My head is becoming troubled-the touch of the fatal dis ease is already upon my brain. go while it is yet possible for me to plan my own departure. enclose the com- pensation for your latest service ood-bye, once more. You are the last human being with whom I shall ever communicate.
 "MILLICENT RAINIER"
 Miss Rayner's heirs preferred, be- iieve, to hush the matter up. No in- vestigation into the cause or detail of her death ever took place. When her will was opened, it was found that she had left me legacy of $5,0O0-"pro- vided," so ran the document, "that he has carried into effect my latest wish. !"
 The money was paid over to me without inquiry or comment. And the secret of Miss Rayner's life lies hidden forever in the unsouhded depths of the Bottomless Pool.-.Sdn Francisco Argonaut.